Neonatal cleft lip repair: a retrospective review of anaesthetic complications

A retrospective analysis of the first 50 cases of neonatal cleft lip repair performed at the Hospital for Sick Children is presented. The patient population included 11 expremature infants of less than 45 weeks postconceptual age. There was no mortality at the time of follow-up. There was one case of peroperative hypoxaemia. There was one case of postoperative laryngospasm requiring reintubation. Postoperatively there were four cases of mild hypoxaemia and one patient with transient apnoea. No patients required blood transfusion. Seventy-six percent of patients did not require opioid analgesia. The remainder received a single dose of intramuscular codeine phosphate. The advantages and risks of anaesthesia for cleft lip in the neonatal period are reviewed. Recommendations for safe practice include the selection of gestationally mature infants with no intercurrent illness, avoidance of opioid analgesia, adequate staffing ratios of experienced postoperative nursing care, appropriate monitoring including oximetry and apnoea detectors.